The Doobie Brothers are SO versatile, and a lot of people don't know just HOW versatile they are because some of their best cuts are album cuts, and weren't heard on the radio. So, here's something different from them: I Cheat the Hangman (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AQBhAGPbJ20.htmlsi=6ZSsEjGmfUG2SUSS), from their 5th studio album Stampede (1975). It was written by group founder Patrick Simmons (the guitarist with the really long straight hair), who also sings lead. Simmons is widely recognized to be one of the best ever guitarists in the finger-picking style, which is featured here. Some Doob fans go so far as to call this their "masterpiece." I don't know about that, but it is definitely one of their absolute best pieces, for sure.
The Doobie Brothers had been inactive for several years when they reunited in 1988. This song and album was supposed to be their big comeback, and it was, sort of. Once "The Doctor" hit the charts they went on tour to promote the album. Many members suddenly remembered that they didn't really like the touring lifestyle anymore and the reunion kind of fizzled out. This song was reminiscent of one of earlier hits "China Grove." Some other Doobie songs you might enjoy are "Dark-Eyed Cajun Woman" and "South City Midnight Lady", also "China Grove" if you haven't heard it, but that's kind of hard to believe, massive hit!
